once again but with lovely sunshine once again but the cloud will build as we go through the afternoon and the rainbow gradually push its way into northern england and parts of wales. hopefully some useful rain for the gardens. if we cling onto some sunshine, 26 degrees not out of the question but for most of us it is a fresh appeal, physically with the cloud, wind and rain. into the weekend, high pressure will build. once the frontal system brings light, patchy rain into the south—east the weekend is looking quite promising. a little bit of early morning showery rain easing from the london area, dry, settled and sunny and temperatures on the whole back to where they should be at this time of year, peaking at 25 degrees in the south—east, 77 fahrenheit. something to look forward to again. sophie, back to you. thanks louise. and that's bbc news at six. the news continues here on bbc one, as now it's time to join our

hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm gavin ramjaun. two days before the start of the season — and the premier league brings in changes to var to win over the fans, but will it work. don't go searching for things, based on what isjumping out don't go searching for things, based on what is jumping out on the screen argue, is that clearly wrong? if so, intervene, if not, move on. it was on — now it's seemingly off. conor gallager�*s proposed move from chelsea to atletico madrid is full of twists and turns. and cricketer freddie flintoff returns to our screens for the first time since a life changing high—speed car crash. also coming up on sportsday. no rest for team gb�*s cyclists, they're back out sowing the seeds for riders of the future. and — "it's what rugby players do". billy twelvetrees tells us why he's raising money on behalf of his former team—mate ed slater, who has motor neurone disease.

hello and welcome along to the programme. love it or hate it — the video assistant referee will be back in the premier league this season. and just a couple of days away from the big kick off, we know how it's going to work. last season, wolves failed in a bid to get rid of var with 19 of the 20 clubs backing it, but the premier league say they are making changes to the system — with the aim of making it faster and less disruptive. so what's going to be different? well there will be the introduction of a �*referee�*s call�* approach like that used in cricket. where there is doubt the on—field referee's decision will be upheld. there will be a �*redefinition�* of when var intervenes — focusing on major errors. fans will be able to access �*near—live�* explanations of decisions on social media. and we'll eventually see semi—automated offside technology like that used at the men's euros in the summer. the hope is that will

be ready in october. the premier league have been explaining the changes and their chief football officer told our sports editor dan roan, that there was still support for var among fans. four out of five want to keep my based on our independent surveys. what that does say is one in five would get rid of it. that is a big minority. would get rid of it. that is a big minori . ~ . ., ., minority. what about those who say four and five — minority. what about those who say four and five want _ minority. what about those who say four and five want to _ minority. what about those who say four and five want to keep _ minority. what about those who say four and five want to keep it, - minority. what about those who say four and five want to keep it, very i four and five want to keep it, very different figures. h0. four and five want to keep it, very different figures.— different figures. no, that is an independent — different figures. no, that is an independent survey _ different figures. no, that is an independent survey that - different figures. no, that is an independent survey that we - independent survey that we commission, so four out of five. but we also keep in mind to the one in five who want to get rid of it. also out of the four and five, most will save, but you need to approve it. of what we are making is we are reaffirming a high barfor var intervention. only to get involved if, in the opinion of the var, the call of the referee, the decision the referee makes on the pitch is clearly, obviously wrong. no doubt at all in the mind of the var. based

on the evidence in front of them, don't go searching for things, based on what is coming out on the screen at you, is it clearly wrong. if so, intervene, if not, move on. as you heard dan mention there, the football supporters association did dispute the claim about the support var has. they posted on x, "four out of five fans, want to keep var? can we see this "independent study" that, as far as we can gather, nobody knows about or has been given access to? all of our work on var has shown it is deeply unpopular with matchgoing fans. supporters' concerns about var, and its influence on the matchday experience have to be taken seriously. statements like this, that make the premier league appear to be in denial, aren't helpful." a lot to get into then. we're joined now by out chief football reporter simon stone — who's been at today's briefings about var. i'v e i've been speaking to people at the premier league today and they are basically saying that they are standing by their survey, but they

said they would be willing to make some parts of it available, but not all in terms of transparency. but also that they intend to speak to the football supporters association and they would be transparent with them and explain where they have got their information from. because, clearly, the places they are getting their information from and where the fsa are getting their information from our completely different. the rationale behind these changes, what are they and what is the justification?— are they and what is the 'ustification? , ., ., justification? the statement that has been pushed _ justification? the statement that has been pushed out _ justification? the statement that has been pushed out is - justification? the statement that has been pushed out is this - justification? the statement that i has been pushed out is this phrase, referee's call. what they are trying to stress is the approach from var this season will be in almost all circumstances, to go with the referee decision during the game, apart from, and we have heard this

phrase, many times before, if there is a clear and obvious error. now, that does not mean to say that people watching the game, whether thatis people watching the game, whether that is commentators, pendants, analysts, just general viewers at home, i agree with in the decision —— stated that the referee has made. it is whether the referee is plausibly coming up with that position and has not missed something that is clear and obvious to everyone else that should have been pulled up and a different decision i arrived at. so that is the message coming out of the premier league a couple of days before the new season starts. clu bs clubs also looking to get their transfer business done. time may be running out for connor gallagher who's moved to atletico madrid remains in doubt returning to his club unable to complete is £33

million trance. the deal appeared to be on. england internationals pictured in the stadium on saturday and spent five days in a madrid hotel. on sunday, the move was halted because the £31i.5 million deal to sign the spanish striker collapsed of a personal terms. as expected, the spanish club completed the 81 million pound sign in, the reason that gallagher deal still hangs in the balance is because it is dependent on selling another player. chelsea now appear to be interested in how get to this point? it feels like it has been _ how get to this point? it feels like it has been the _ how get to this point? it feels like it has been the longest _ how get to this point? it feels like it has been the longest saga - how get to this point? it feels like it has been the longest saga of. how get to this point? it feels like | it has been the longest saga of the summer, this transfer saga so where we are at now is gallagher is in limbo so we were kind of waiting to

see if chelsea can work something out with atletico madrid. i need to cash in on another player because they spent so much onjulian alvarez as you mention so they need to find another player to sell and that player is the ciao felix, he is played for chelsea before scoring four goals of stamford bridge and theirs talks about his possible return and if that could happen, immediately, gallagher will get on a plane complete that ideal and complete the rest of his move beyond that pitch that you mentioned of him in the stadium you may ask to see a picture of him in the team cat. did the sell picture of him in the team cat. did they sell gallagher to comply with they sell gallagher to comply with the rules the league has? chelsea would deny _ the rules the league has? chelsea would deny they — the rules the league has? chelsea would deny they have _ the rules the league has? chelsea would deny they have those - the rules the league has? chelsea would deny they have those psr i the rules the league has? chelsea . would deny they have those psr rules issues at the minute but certainly they are aware and have to comply with the rules in the way people inside chelsea describe it as they

want to avoid a losing place for free, they'd want to avoid losing him for free especially with the new ownership took over they lost several players for free and they have gone on to massive clubs and rail madrid and barcelona. so chelsea continue to spend money, a huge pace and the sale of academy players has really helped fuel their business. it has been a transfer window quite like no other. each time chelsea enter the summer markets of the sale of academy players has been a vehicle for them to spend 1.5 billion over the course of what, threesome or transfer windows in this ownership? an windows in this ownership? an incredible amount. this is a similar situation last year, how are they justifying it? it situation last year, how are they justifying it?— justifying it? it was. chelsea do ou want justifying it? it was. chelsea do you want to _ justifying it? it was. chelsea do you want to slow _ justifying it? it was. chelsea do you want to slow down - justifying it? it was. chelsea do you want to slow down their - you want to slow down their recruitment, they do want to stabilise it a little bit, but it almost seems like they can't help themselves, constantly buying these

players and they believe they are getting these players under market value and their value will increase think they have already done so. there are several examples, success stories such as nicholas jackson and cole palmer as well so they want those stories to happen again and again to them so that is why they get them before a middleman or club boat like a benfica or dortmund comments they can get them a bit lower but it seems like there are two new players in the squad in will be hard for the managers to deal with. it will be interesting to see how they off—load players in the last few weeks. yes, that too many players, a 56 man squad and then he to start different players before the window shuts in august. staying with the transfer market and crystal palace chairman steve parish says they need an offer they can't refuse, if they're to be tempted to sell england defender marc guehi. bbc sport understands palace have received a third bid from newcastle of around £60 million for the england international, but parish believes they need to do all they can to keep hold of top talent.

we'd like to keep hold of it. there's a price at which end and a situation at which where we might consider it. we just had another interview, somebody said he was a superstar, someone's got to pay superstar money. realistically, home—grown, 23 years old, sensational talent, you know, somebody�*s got to make it difficult for us, right? and at the moment, it isn't, he's still as crystal palace at the moment, but it's not impossible. the bbc has agreed a deal to broadcast next year's women's euros, alongside itv. england head to switzerland as defending champions after qualifying injuly with a goalless draw against sweden. northern ireland, scotland and wales will seek to make it through via the play—offs this autumn. a little over a month to wait until the start of the women's super league season. and the defending champions chelsea have a new manager. sonia bompastor, says she wants to build a legacy at the club, and follow in the footsteps of emma hayes who won 1a major honours during her 12 years in charge, before leaving to take charge of the us women's national team. our reporterjo currie was at bompastor�*s first

news conference earlier. it's the start of a new error here at chelsea. for the first time in over a decade, there is a new manager in charge. the players in most of the fans, all they have ever known is emma hayes. so what connects from the new boss, sonia bompastor? today she spoke to the press to the first time. the pressure — press to the first time. the pressure is _ press to the first time. tue: pressure is something press to the first time. tte: pressure is something i press to the first time. "tt2 pressure is something i really press to the first time. tt2 pressure is something i really like because it makes me better, so i will try my best to work very hard with the girls. make sure i support them in the best way, for us to make this club so special and successful. and i already told everyone, we are here to win every single title, every single game so this is why i came. , ., ., , every single game so this is why i came. , ., ._ ., ., ' every single game so this is why i came. , ., ., ., ' ., ., came. chelsea may have won 14 ma'or turke s in came. chelsea may have won 14 ma'or turkeys in 12 — came. chelsea may have won 14 ma'or turkeys in 12 years, d came. chelsea may have won 14 ma'or turkeys in 12 years, but i came. chelsea may have won 14 ma'or turkeys in 12 years, but there is i turkeys in 12 years, but there is always one that is alluded them and thatis always one that is alluded them and that is the champions league. a trophy that sonia bompastor one as a player and a manager with her

previous team. how much pressure will she feel to bring that turkey to south—west london? will she feel to bring that turkey to south-west london?- will she feel to bring that turkey to south-west london? when i had the meetin: to south-west london? when i had the meeting with — to south-west london? when i had the meeting with the _ to south-west london? when i had the meeting with the sporting _ to south-west london? when i had the meeting with the sporting director - meeting with the sporting director as ijust said, this is really something special to win the champions league and i had this incredible chance to win the champions league as a player and as a manager and i champions league as a player and as a managerand i think champions league as a player and as a manager and i think we have all the quality in this club in infrastructure, players, staff to have this trophy at home so we have to work really hard to make sure we will get there and i can't wait to start this competition because it is a really special one. hour start this competition because it is a really special one.— a really special one. how does the chelsea side _ a really special one. how does the chelsea side play _ a really special one. how does the chelsea side play under _ a really special one. how does the chelsea side play under sonia - chelsea side play under sonia bompastor? we will have to wait long to find out. they are hosting the opening game of the women super league season here on friday the 20th of september when they take on aston villa. mark that in your calendar because it will be live across the bbc.

former england cricket captain andrew �*freddie' flintoff has been speaking frankly about life after the high—speed crash he was involved in whilst filming an episode of top gear two years ago. he was left with severe facial injuries and broken ribs after the car he was in flipped off a test track. for his new series, �*freddie flintoff�*s field of dreams on tour�* he's returned to his hometown of preston to take his cricket team to india — a trip he'd planned before his accident. patrick geary has more. i promised you a trip to india. um, i'm wondering if you still want to go. freddie flintoff has been on many a cricket tour before, but none quite like this. we're representing england. but we're representing something far bigger than that. we're representing preston. a team of lancastrian youngsters who, until a couple of years ago, mostly didn't know the rules of cricket, heading to india, where the sport is woven into everyday life. this is the second series of freddie flintoff�*s field of dreams. all right? missed me, yeah? where the great ex—cricketer turns ambassador, coach and mentor. using the sport he loves as a force

to try and improve the lives of young people from his home town of preston. you're someone i want to be involved. i think it brings the best out in you. yeah. production began not long after the first series aired in 2022, but soon everything would have to stop. in the last few minutes, _ it's been announced that the former england cricketer freddie flintoff has been taken to hospital - after being injured in an accident. exactly what happened in that accident while filming for top gear at dunsfold park in surrey has never been publicly spoken about, but the programme showed us for the first time the effect it had on flintoff. genuinely should not be here with what happened. it's going to be a long road back. i've only just started. got to look at the positives, i've got another chance, i've got a go at it. and i'm seeing that is how it is. a second go. he would reach a settlement with the bbc, which hasn't broadcast top gear since. for months we saw and heard nothing

from freddie flintoff, until he appeared in cardiff last september among the england cricket coaching staff. but travelling abroad to film field of dreams on tour would be a huge step. last night's programme showed us how big a challenge it was. i think about it all the time and i think about going and how good it will be. i rewind and i'm thinking, well, i don't leave the house either. i'm going to get on a plane, going to be away for two and a half weeks. yeah. but some of those lads didn't survive. yeah. you've got to try and put it into perspective. yeah. and i feel guilty i can't do that. i don't want to sit here and feel sorry for myself. and i don't want sympathy, but it's going from being here for seven months, really, and then going to india. which is like the extreme. yeah. everywhere i go at the minute i've got a full face mask and glasses on. i can't do that. i struggle with anxiety, you know, i have nightmares, i have flashbacks. it's been so hard to cope with. but i'm thinking if i don't do something, i'm never going to do it. i've got to get on with it.

in some ways, like, the lads might help you out. i'm a bit nervous about that as well. you know, seeing them for the first time and being in front of them. flintoff, as he has so often, rose to the challenge. and injanuary he reunited with his team. oh, my god, it's you! all right, lads? to make good on his offer of the tour of a lifetime. we've got to have a wrap on this last year for me. one thing i've been very aware of and desperately wanting to do is take you. i've heard they love you over in india. not just india, sean! are you feeling 100% now? not really. no. i don't know if i will again, to be honest. i'm better than i was. i don't know what completely better is. you know what i mean? i am what i am now. i'm different to what i was. that's something i'll probably have to deal with for the rest of my life. so, better? no, different. freddie flintoff always was cricket's action hero, the ultimate all rounder, a man of many skills and clearly many dimensions.

patrick geary, bbc news. and you can watch the first instalment of �*freddie flintoff�*s field of dreams on tour�* right now on the bbc iplayer, with new episodes available every tuesday. there's cricket action continuing today. hayley matthews was the star with bat and ball, as welsh fire made it through to the final of the women's hundred. they beat southern brave by nine wickets — matthews taking 4—14 as brave were bowled out forjust 103 before hitting an unbeaten 35 from 26 balls as fire won with 26 balls to spare. they finished top of the group, and go straight into sunday's showpiece, thanks to the day's other result. where oval invicibles beat trent rockets — but not with a high enough run rate. ash gardner was one of only two batters to reach double figures as the rockets made 91 for 8. it was close, the invincibles reaching their target with six balls

to spare after a misfield. so they will play london spirit in the eliminator on saturday for a place in the final. in the men's competition, southern brave have reached the knockout stages after rain meant there was no result in their game with welsh fire. in their game with welsh fire who had set them 182 to win. but with southern brave on 21 for 2 in reply, the match was abandoned. so brave will play in the eliminator on saturday. oval invicibles have just started their match against trent rockets, they will go straight through to the final if they win. let's have a quick look at some of the other stories making the headlines. katie boulter has been knocked out in the first round of the cincinnati open. the british number one went a set up but lost nine games in a row, as she was beaten in three sets by magda linette, who is 13 places below boulter in the world rankings. british number three harriet dart argued with the umpire after she refused her request to change her shoes as yulia

putinseva was about to serve in the second set. and her frustrations didn't end there as she lost in three sets. defending champion deymi vollering has extended her lead at the tour de france femmes with four stages to go. puck pieterse beat vollering, in the yellow jersey, to win stage 4 in a photo finsh. but vollering now leads the overall standings by 22 seconds, ahead of pieterse. stay on that cycling theme and there was much success for team gb last week at the olympics. today, track cycling gold medallists katy marchant and sophie capewell joined up with bmx star beth shriever, for a special workshop to encourage people to take up the sport and talk about mental health. our reporter dave guest was there. the bike kitchen is a community venture that specialises in refurbishing bicycles and selling them on at affordable prices. and today, they welcomed some new trainee mechanics. hang on a minute? isn't that bmx wizard beth shriever? and this is your bike?

911? yes, this is my bmx. yeah, that's my career number. do you normally have it up on a stand and be tinkering away yourself? me personally? no. i'd have a mechanic i work very closely with who helps me with all my troubles. beth and a group of fellow cycling olympians are in hyde to promote an initiative called change maker. change maker is about tackling inequalities through providing opportunities. social impact programme. we're really proud at british cycling to be at the heart of that. inspiring people to ride a bike, get healthy, get fit. and it's about looking after ourselves, about the physical activity, mental wellbeing, and also inspiration. sophie capewell won gold in the women's team sprint in paris. i was just so proud. it was such a special moment. it's a culmination of such like a long time, of a lot of hard work. so yeah, just very proud and it was so special. why have you decided to support the change makers initiative? i think it's really important to give back to the community. obviously, we've had a lot of help getting to where we are and getting our achievements, so it's just nice to be able to give

back to the community. so it's all about promoting the health benefits, both physical and psychological cycling, and that's something the bike kitchen is all too aware of. so we have a session called tea and tinker, which is aimed at slightly older people, so they can come out and have a cup of tea with us, just chat if they wish and have a tinker with a bike. and then we've got another session for younger people called shredders, where we take young people out onto local trails to basically give them a positive activity instead of doing something that they shouldn't be doing. and so the olympians who've travelled from paris to hyde with hardly a moment's rest in between. i dare say you would have preferred to maybe have had a couple of weeks off from the excitement of paris before you get back on the road again. maybe a little bit, but i think i'm just super proud to be able to give back. obviously, we've had a lot of help getting to where we are and getting our achievements, so it's just nice to be able to give back to the community. the pace of beth shriever- here is absolutely breathtaking. beth shriever won gold in tokyo, but despite a promising start, missed out on a medal in paris. however, she's now looking to the future. la is definitely one

of my biggest goals now. i've got world championships, so hopefully get a few titles along the way. um, but yeah, ican't wait. so going back all those years, you all remember tom daley predicting what he'd be doing in 2024 when he was a boy? what's your prediction for 2028? i think hopefully get a medal. i think i've definitely got the potential to keep going and be successful. so yeah, i'm going to go in and see what we can do. and 2028 will be here before we know it. dave guest, bbc news, hyde. the former rugby union player ed slater was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2022 and now his friend and former team—mate, billy twelvetrees, is taking on another mammoth cycling challenge to support families affected by the condition. on monday, billy and his support team will cycle 350 miles — repeating the route he and ed covered together two years ago. and this time billy is trying to complete it in one day — rather than three. they'll start at kingsholm stadium in gloucester, cycle

up to leicester, down through milton keynes and twickenham and back to gloucester. i think it's an extremely cruel disease. physically we are very open with our friendship and stuff, and it has deteriorated him, it has affected ed especially but his family massively as well. he has a wife and young kids and for anyone in the motor neurone disease community affected by it, it's really, really tough for themselves obviously, but the family and close a network around him, it's affected them so much. and we've seen it through rob burrow and kev sinfield and doddie weir and everyone affected by it and rugby is such a good way of coming together because it's a team sport and all its values and helping each other. and it's affected him and everyone around him but everyone just wants to get behind him and everyone affected by mnd and help the cause, because there is no fix at the moment and we will keep banging down the door until there is one because that's

the most important thing. there's a bizarre spectacle in store on the eve of the diamond league meeting in zurich next month. mondo duplantis, who broke his own pole vault world record in defending his olympic title nine days ago, will take on the 400—metres hurdler karsten warholm in a 100—metre sprint. the pair share a friendly rivalry — but paris silver medallist warholm has the edge. his last documented time over the distance was back in 2017, when he ran it in 10.49 seconds, with duplatis coming in at 10.57 in his final year at a high school, six years ago. can he tap into that speed from back then, we shall see. that's all from sportsday. thank you so much for watching. as ever, keep up with everything on the sport website, we will see you next

time. hello there. temperatures have come down somewhat, particularly across the south, to what we had at the start of the week. but it's by no means going to be cold for the next few days, but it will be a bit more unsettled as this area of low pressure starts to work its way in as we head through tonight across scotland, northern ireland and then eventually the clouds thicken for northern and western england and also wales, with an increasing breeze. further south, it will be mostly dry with clear skies, variable cloud, and where we have any cloud cover then around 15 degrees the overnight low, but it will be milder further north than what we had the previous night, so a mild night across the board. thursday, then, we have this weather front crossing the country very slowly. some of the rain will be quite heavy to start thursday across scotland, northern ireland into northwest england, north west wales. very slowly, it will work its way southwards and eastwards. behind it brightens up with blustery showers and some sunshine. ahead of it, it will be rather breezy, fairly cloudy, a little bit of brightness and still quite warm and muggy, 24—26 degrees here, but fresher the further north and west

that you are. as we head through thursday night, that weather front does weaken, but it will slip its way southwards and eastwards. the odd heavier burst on it as it pushes off into the near continent. still a hang back of some warm and muggy air for the south east to start friday. otherwise, further north it is much cooler and fresher. friday, then, doesn't look too bad. a lot of sunshine around. fresher air will have arrived across the southeast, too. will stay quite blustery across scotland, northern ireland — variable cloud, one or two showers, but some sunny spells as well. high teens in the north, 24—25 degrees across the southeast. so not a bad day on friday, and indeed the weekend is looking pretty good as well. we're in between weather systems, so a lot of dry and sunny weather thanks to a ridge of high pressure which will push in from the southwest. so light winds for many, just the chance of stronger breeze and the odd shower across the north and west of scotland. that's both on saturday and sunday, but a decent day on saturday.

more sunshine the further south that you are, with lighter winds, bit of cloud in the northwest, the odd shower, more of a breeze. top temperatures 20—25 celsius, so pretty much where we should be for the time of year. we do it all again on sunday. another fine looking day to come with more sunshine further south with lighter winds. chance of a few more showers for the north and west of scotland, but most places even the north, will stay dry. those temperatures again, 20—21 in the north to 24—25 degrees in the south.

it's 7pm in london. this is the world today with annita mcveigh. ukraine says it's captured 100 prisoners of war inside russia and troops are making further inroads. inflation in the us drops to its lowest level for more than three years — as the uk sees its first rise in 2024. the world health organization says the outbreak of mpox in the democratic republic of the congo is a global health emergency, amid record levels of the infection. nasa says its astronauts accept risk is �*part of the job' — as two of its own remain stuck in space.

also coming up on the world today — how did they get it there? new analysis shows a key part of stonehenge came from hundreds of miles away in scotland. welcome to the world today — an hour of international news from the bbc. ukraine says its troops have pushed even further into russia and captured more than 100 russian servicemen, in what has become the biggest foreign incursion into the country since the second world war. ukraine's offensive began just over a week ago. president zelensky insists it is a temporary move — aimed at easing pressure in the conflict with russia. as for president putin, it's still not clear what his response will be. with the latest, here's our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse. no border checkpoint on this crossing to russia, just a burnt—out russian tank.