it will be called the eras tour. see you there. taylor swift returns to london's wembley stadium for the final leg of her eras tour after her cancelled concerts in vienna. hello, i'm lucy grey. welcome to the programme. we begin in the middle east with two significant developments. in qatar, new talks are under way to try to reach a ceasefire in gaza and the release of hostages. in gaza, the number of people killed in the war has now passed 40,000 — according to the hamas—run health ministry there. israel has questioned the figures, which do not specify how many fighters are among those killed. in qatar — both israel and the united states have sent negotiators. hamas says it won't directly join the negotiations. it accuses israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, of adding new conditions to earlier proposals. but qatari mediators are expected to relay messages to hamas,

who already have a presence in doha. to gaza, then, where more than 40,000 people have been killed in the war, according to figures from the hamas—run health ministry. the figures don't differentiate between civilians and fighters. the ministry's breakdown of identified reported fatalities says a majority are children, women or elderly people. the un has found the figures from gaza in previous conflicts reliable. this month, israel's military told the bbc that more than 15,000 hamas fighters had been killed during the war. israel is not allowing internationaljournalists from media organisations, including the bbc, independent access to gaza, so we are not able to independently verify figures. the war began after hamas fighters stormed into southern israel on october the seventh, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 others. israel says more than 300 of its soldiers have been killed in the fighting since. barbara plett usher reports now — and a warning — you may find some details upsetting.

it took ali two months to dig his family out of the wreckage of their home. he was the only one who survived the strike. translation: i could see my father i under the rubble, but i could not. extract him at first because he was under two columns of cement and the ceiling would have collapsed. he decomposed in front of my eyes. my mother's body was inside the house, but when i tried to go to see her, i felt smothered and had to leave. he's looked after now by his grandfather in a shelter for orphans and widows. carrying on with the task of living — his mother, father, brother and two sisters are among the 40,000 reported killed in the gaza war. the number is overwhelming. each loss is a raw and individual grief, experienced again and again in places that are supposed to be safe.

israel says it hits civilian infrastructure because hamas is operating there. hamas says it isn't. the international community condemns civilian deaths and the killing goes on. more than ten months of war have turned gaza into a destruction zone, displaced most of its people. many are sick and hungry. in the southern city of khan younis, they've been forced to flee a continually shifting front line. "we are tired of this life," she says, "death is better than this." death is a constant presence. sami kawar still has his family and whatever else he could carry with him, but this graveyard was the only space he could find in a shrinking humanitarian zone. translation: we have fled from dying to be among the dead, _ meaning we are the living dead. the truth is no—one really knows what to say.

back at the shelter, the orphans have been given another chance at life. how much of a chance, though, without at least a ceasefire, how much of a chance, though? without at least a ceasefire, the future looks as dangerous as the present. barbara plett usher, bbc news, jerusalem. i spoke to our middle east correspondent wyre davies, correspondent wyre davies about the latest figures and the ceasefire talks. the news today is another grim milestone, a reminder ofjust how devastating ten months of war have been. by far the most costly war in either israel or the occupied palestinian territories. israel has responded to this figure of 40,000 dead, which has come from the hamas—run health ministry, as unverifiable. in the past, they've called them fake. but everything is tied up. it's another reminder of why there's such international pressure for peace talks to resume. if this framework is agreed in doha,

then we can move on to talks that might lead to a ceasefire, the release of the hostages, and the end of this most devastating of wars. 0k, and in terms of what the us is doing, really pressing hard, isn't it, to get a deal. there's this concern about an all—out war in the region. just explain to us who is there at those talks. well, look, there's a very senior us delegation led by the head of the cia, some very senior us figures, negotiators from qatar, also from egypt, and israel has also sent a very high—level delegation. now, hamas are not formally represented at the talks, but qatar is, of course, where many of the hamas leaders in exile are based. so they will be aware, they will be kept in the loop of what is going on. the talks are meant to go on for two days, and they are meant to present a framework for future talks about a ceasefire. so even if these talks succeed, we're not going to see hostages released overnight. we're not going to see an imminent ceasefire. these are baby steps, but they're important baby steps.

because if they fail, then a lot of people expect iran or hezbollah tojump in and launch the counter response to, of course, the high—profile assassinations of a senior hamas figure in iran and a senior hezbollah figure in southern lebanon. so if these talks fail, there's a real fear in the region and outside that there may be further military action, which could lead to an escalation of the war. let's speak to ehab 0mar from the british palestinians family group. ehab�*s two cousins were killed in gaza. hello to you and thank you so much forjoining us. firstly, could you just explain what your group does in terms of the support that it gives? thank you very much for having me. our group has been established last november, basically, when the carnage started in gaza and it is a

group of families with loved ones in gaza and each one of those has lost family members in gaza and we try to play a role in advocating the palestinian narrative on the media outlets and with the parliamentarians, just to tell the story where all the people do not know or do not want to listen to. and we are obviously talking today about these ceasefire talks which are under way in qatar. do you feel any sort of hope at all that these could be successful? there have been so many moments where we bought they were coming to a conclusion previously. what is your feeling this time? figs previously. what is your feeling this time?— previously. what is your feeling this time? a . , ., , ., this time? as palestinians, we are very resilient _ this time? as palestinians, we are very resilient and _ this time? as palestinians, we are very resilient and we _ this time? as palestinians, we are very resilient and we keep - this time? as palestinians, we are very resilient and we keep hopeful for the future and for a better future for all palestinians but i think we need to see here that the international actors, including the uk, they need to exert power on israel to accept a ceasefire and as you said, the deal has been on the table for a while and both sides,

and in particular the palestinians, have been suffering. today, there is a milestone, a grim milestone of 40,000 lesbians killed and the only way to stop this is to reach a ceasefire immediately. i way to stop this is to reach a ceasefire immediately. i suppose -- 40,000 palestinians _ ceasefire immediately. i suppose -- 40,000 palestinians killed. - ceasefire immediately. i suppose -- 40,000 palestinians killed. i- 40,000 palestinians killed. i suppose my question is, do you think it is likely and it sits close? irate it is likely and it sits close? we kee it is likely and it sits close? - keep hoping but unless there is a political will across various political will across various political players and actors across the world, i don't think this will happen, so we can always ask or demand or request a ceasefire and i think that the uk has requested an immediate ceasefire but i can't actually see that there is an actual political will to make it happen. what exactly would you like the us to do, say, because we see them

seeing all the time they are putting pressure on both sides to come to the table but what more would you like to see done? i the table but what more would you like to see done?— like to see done? i think the key one is the _ like to see done? i think the key one is the united _ like to see done? i think the key one is the united states - like to see done? i think the key one is the united states needs l like to see done? i think the key| one is the united states needs to suspend the arms sales to israel because the carnage happening now in gazais because the carnage happening now in gaza is being sponsored by internationally made weapons. and the only way to give the signals to the only way to give the signals to the israeli side that this needs to stop is to suspend arms sales to israel and sending the message that the only way both parties can live in peace in the middle east is to give the palestinians what they deserve, justice and their own statehood. deserve, justice and their own statehood-— deserve, justice and their own statehood. �* ., statehood. and i mentioned in the introduction _ statehood. and i mentioned in the introduction to _ statehood. and i mentioned in the introduction to you _ statehood. and i mentioned in the introduction to you that _ statehood. and i mentioned in the introduction to you that you - statehood. and i mentioned in the introduction to you that you had i statehood. and i mentioned in the i introduction to you that you had two cousins that were killed in gaza. do you still have family out there as well now? , ., you still have family out there as well now? , . , well now? yes, i have multiple cousins killed _ well now? yes, i have multiple cousins killed in _ well now? yes, i have multiple cousins killed in gaza, - well now? yes, i have multiple| cousins killed in gaza, including one who was 71 years old who was killed sitting in his couch on his

own home and he was killed, one cousin in his 20s, killed whilst queueing for bread last september in gaza and i still have family there and family in northern gaza and the reports that i hear from them, there are no supplies and no aid entering north gaza and the fact that supplies are extremely restricted, thatis supplies are extremely restricted, that is extremely terrifying. haw supplies are extremely restricted, that is extremely terrifying. how do ou that is extremely terrifying. how do you communicate _ that is extremely terrifying. how do you communicate with _ that is extremely terrifying. how do you communicate with them? - that is extremely terrifying. how do you communicate with them? i - that is extremely terrifying. how do you communicate with them? i call| you communicate with them? i call them on international— you communicate with them? i call them on international lines - you communicate with them? i call them on international lines and on whatsapp sometimes but as you say, the complete infrastructure has been destroyed because of the indiscriminate bombardment by israel indiscriminate bombardment by israel in gaza but we try our best to stay in gaza but we try our best to stay in contact but it hasn't been easy. i think the key message here, we need to reach a ceasefire and the political powers need to exert pressure on israel to accept an immediate ceasefire.— pressure on israel to accept an immediate ceasefire. thank you very

much for your— immediate ceasefire. thank you very much for your time. _ immediate ceasefire. thank you very much for your time. i _ immediate ceasefire. thank you very much for your time. i appreciate - immediate ceasefire. thank you very much for your time. i appreciate it. | much for your time. i appreciate it. ehab 0marfrom the much for your time. i appreciate it. ehab 0mar from the british palestinians family group. thank you. palestinians family group. thank ou. ., ~' palestinians family group. thank ou. ., ~ , ., let's bring you some breaking news. an arrest has been made in connection with the death of matthew perry — that's according to us media reports. the actor was found in a hot tub at his home in la, in october last year, having been under the influence of the drug ketamine. he had struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs during his career, but at the time of his death had been clean for over a year, according to medical reports. 0ur north america correspondent, peter bowes, joins me now from la. what can you tell us? matthew perry died last year— what can you tell us? matthew perry died last year and _ what can you tell us? matthew perry died last year and his _ what can you tell us? matthew perry died last year and his body _ what can you tell us? matthew perry died last year and his body was - died last year and his body was found in the hot tub at his home here in los angeles and at the time, the coroner's report concluded he had died from the acute effects of

ketamine which is a drug used to treat depression and anxiety and it is an anaesthetic, and we understand from reports that he had been receiving small doses of that drug as infusions but the? was over the levels of the drug in his body and we learned earlier this year that there was an investigation involving federal authorities and to the los angeles police department looking into where he could have got those drugs from and who could have supplied him with those drugs and the method of supply, and a huge investigation, and we are indeed now hearing reports from us media that at least one person has been arrested and we don't have any further details on that although there will be a news conference by there will be a news conference by the authorities here in los angeles where we expect to learn much more. —— but the question mark was over the levels of the drug in his body.

well, we will come back to you once we have more on that. thank you very much for speaking to us from los angeles, peter.

challenger two tanks, supplied by the uk to ukrainian forces, have been used in their cross—border incursion into russia, a source has told the bbc. kyiv says it's expanding its military operation in the kursk region. a top commander has said the country's troops have advanced a further 1.5 kilometres in the past 24 hours. he said they now control 1,150 square kilometres of russian territory, and have seized 82 settlements. but russia insists they are pushing back. with me is our defence correspondent, jonathan beale. how significant is this that these uk tanks are being used in this incursion? i5 uk tanks are being used in this incursion?— uk tanks are being used in this incursion? , ., ., ., incursion? is important to get a sense of proportion. _ incursion? is important to get a sense of proportion. we - incursion? is important to get a sense of proportion. we gave i incursion? is important to get a - sense of proportion. we gave them 14 challenger to tanks and germany and

the us give them many more than we did but it is an important move because at the time there were very few western countries willing to give modern main battle tanks to ukraine because of the threats from russia but that was a red line that was crossed and specifically crossed from last year's offensive which was to take ukrainian territory taken by the russians but that offensive was stalled. it was not envisaged at the time that these would be used inside russia and challenger tanks were first designed in the cold war for fighting soviet armour on the plains of europe but nobody envisaged that british made challenger two tanks would be inside russia and they are. we don't know how many there are and the ministry of defence aren't saying specifically but i have had it confirmed from a source that they are there. �* a, , it confirmed from a source that they are there. �* , ., it confirmed from a source that they are there. �* a, , . _ are there. and the mod are saying the are are there. and the mod are saying they are fine _ are there. and the mod are saying they are fine with _ are there. and the mod are saying they are fine with it, _ are there. and the mod are saying they are fine with it, no? - are there. and the mod are saying they are fine with it, no? this - are there. and the mod are saying they are fine with it, no? this is i they are fine with it, no? this is in line with _ they are fine with it, no? this is in line with what _ they are fine with it, no? this is in line with what other- they are fine with it, no? this isj in line with what other countries have done and the uk it was one of

the first but it wasn't the biggest, the first but it wasn't the biggest, the largest supplier of armour to ukrainian forces, that is the us, germany, poland and other countries, but they have all said this is part of ukrainian rights to and therefore, once they that equipment, it is up to them how they use it. —— ukrainian right to self—defence. there is one important caveat which is how that use those missiles. president zelensky has been saying the whole time that he wants to use long—range missiles and has been denied it so it seems tanks are ok but long—range missiles aren't. imilieu but long-range missiles aren't. when the sa but long-range missiles aren't. when they say don't — but long-range missiles aren't. when they say don't send _ but long-range missiles aren't. when they say don't send f-16 _ but long-range missiles aren't. when they say don't send f-16 jets, - but long—range missiles aren't. wren they say don't send f—16 jets, they do it to, and there is a lot of debating within western countries who are nervous about how a nuclear power might respond that you can see another red line here that has been there for quite a long time but for

example, there is a serious debate in the uk on whether to lift those restrictions on using storm shadow missiles in ukraine on military targets in russia so the debate is there but nobody has crossed that threshold, that red line. how damaging — threshold, that red line. how damaging is _ threshold, that red line. how damaging is this _ threshold, that red line. how damaging is this incursion for putin in the winder range of things —— wider range? it in the winder range of things -- wider range?— in the winder range of things -- wider range? in the winder range of things -- wider ranae? , ., ., , wider range? it is not a disaster in terms of the _ wider range? it is not a disaster in terms of the war _ wider range? it is not a disaster in terms of the war as _ wider range? it is not a disaster in terms of the war as he _ wider range? it is not a disaster in terms of the war as he sees - wider range? it is not a disaster in terms of the war as he sees it - wider range? it is not a disaster in terms of the war as he sees it as l terms of the war as he sees it as his forces are still progressing and pushing forward very slowly and losing a lot of people in eastern ukraine and that has been his main goal but i think it has been a humbling experience for president putin and the question is what sort of debate its parks within russia, a country where the media is essentially controlled and it is difficult to hear other voices, critical voices, and i think the question is also what impact this

will have on ukraine's offensive, sorry, russia's offensive in ukraine elsewhere. �* sorry, russia's offensive in ukraine elsewhere-— elsewhere. and ukraine's ability to defend itself. _ elsewhere. and ukraine's ability to defend itself. yes, _ elsewhere. and ukraine's ability to defend itself. yes, but _ elsewhere. and ukraine's ability to defend itself. yes, but at - elsewhere. and ukraine's ability to defend itself. yes, but at the - defend itself. yes, but at the moment we _ defend itself. yes, but at the moment we are _ defend itself. yes, but at the moment we are seeing - defend itself. yes, but at the i moment we are seeing russia, defend itself. yes, but at the - moment we are seeing russia, which has eight manpower advantage in terms of artillery, is clearly struggling to get fresh troops round to renew these new defences and try to renew these new defences and try to push back ukrainians while still continuing with its offensive in eastern ukraine and it is stretched to and ukraine is even more stretched but russia does not have unlimited resources on this front. thank you very much, jonathan beale, are defence correspondent. hundreds of thousands of students in england, wales and northern ireland have been getting their exam results today, with a—level, t—level, btec nationals and other level three results being awarded. the top a—level grades have risen for the first time in three years. 80% of students successfully got into their first—choice university in a year when grading was expected

to be restored to the level it was before the pandemic. vanessa clarke reports. it's the day hundreds of thousands of students have been waiting for, but after a morning filled with nerves and a quick scan of their results, it's relief. and some have even done better than they hoped. it feels great. i only thought i get an a, b, b, and i needed a, a, b for uni, so i were a bit worried, but i got what i need, so i'm happy. overall, the number of top grades is still slightly above what it was before the pandemic. there has been a phased effort to bring them back down after a spike of top results when exams were cancelled. in wales and northern ireland, they're returning to pre—pandemic grading for the first time this year, so you are seeing a drop in both wales and northern ireland from last year's gradings which reflects that return. in enniskillen and fermanagh, there is plenty to celebrate, with many students heading to apprenticeships or work. for those doing vocational courses

like btecs, there were 22,000 top grades awarded in the uk. i wasn't really nervous at all, i i wasjust thinking, it's results, i'm just going to go in, see what i got and - move on, you know? then the night before, it hit on me, what if it doesn't go well? - but, yeah, i got the results i was hoping for. _ and in this school in manchester, where the education secretary in england visited, results are better than expected, but there are still regional disparities and although there has been a slight improvement, there are calls for work to be done to close that gap. i do recognise that the gaps that we've seen opening up under the last conservative government where it comes to regional differences are really stark and that gap is widening. there is an awful lot that we need to do and i want to make sure, as education secretary, that we break down those barriers to opportunity for our young people, that where you are from doesn't determine what you can go on to achieve in life. for the class of 2024,

whether they have the results they wanted or not, their secondary school experience has been one that they will never forget. and today marks a huge milestone. just to have an update on the situation in the kursk region, russia says that a long—range heavy bomber has crashed in the eastern kursk region and in a statement reported by the interfax news agency, they say the group managed to eject and were alive and there were no casualties or damage on the ground and they described it as a planned flight and early data suggested the plane crashed due to a technical fault. in india, fury over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor has lead to tens of thousands of women holding a large—scale late night protest. there have been several days of demonstrations across west bengal — as well as industrial

action by doctors. the anger was sparked by the killing of a 31—year—old trainee doctor. she had fallen asleep in a seminar room following a 36—hour shift. the next morning, colleagues found her with extensive injuries. a hospital volunteer worker has been arrested in connection with the crime. the reclaim the night march saw women from all walks of life fill the streets of kolkata and other cities in west bengal. their anger was also directed more widely against the number of sexual assaults against women. the protests were timed to coincide with the eve of independence day. hours later, india's prime minister, narendra modi, while attending celebrations, made reference to the protests. he promised there would be strict punishment for those who offend against women. kavita krishnan is a women's rights activist and member of the all india progressive women's association. the prime minister made a speech, but i think the response and the reaction is contrasting with narendra modi's political

opportunism and, sort of, cynical opportunism. the real sentiment and anger that protesters are expressing and the young woman who was speaking just now, she said it. there is a normalisation of violence. 0ur expectations from politicians and government are so low that it is generating anger now. that is a good thing. they really want change. it is about whether something tangible is going to happen to bring about that change. it is a question of what you would call tangible. 2012, about ten years ago, when the protests

happened, there were changes in the law. of course, there is already changing society, which is why there are so many protests. but the big change that is required is the end of this normalisation of the culture of victim blaming. how normal is it? after every single incident of violence against women, if it happens inside the home with the boyfriend or someone she knows, then it is like, "you invited this on yourself." if it happens outside, even if you're your workplace, the same thing happens. that is the crux of the anger. a 15—year—old boy is the first to be charged with riot in the country. the teenager, who can't be named for

legal reasons, is due to be appearing in court in tyneside later today where he will answer the charge. stay with us here on bbc news. while those guys did brighten up it was a pretty soggy one for most but tomorrow is looking better with more sunshine around. that is continuing to move eastwards and southwards through the overnight period with some spots of rain and the odd burst but generally weaker than what we had earlier in the day across western areas and if you blustery showers across the north—west of the uk and clear skies mean a cooler and fresher night for most is to come but still quite muggy in the south—east. we have a ridge of high

pressure building in behind this weather front tomorrow so lots of sunshine around and a chilly patch here and it stays quite blustery in scotland and northern ireland tomorrow and one or two showers in western scotland but try elsewhere and we will clear from the south—east. temperatures will be in the mid 20s and the self and there will be lower humidity so it will feel a bit more comfortable. free friday night, we hold on to the breeze and a few more blustery showers and it will be a chilly night to come for all areas, ranging from around seven to ten or 11 degrees. we are in between weather systems both saturday and sunday so a lot of tripe weather around and maybe the odd shower for the north—west of the uk and closer to this area of low pressure —— a lot of dry weather. we could see that cloud attending to bubble up into the afternoon and more of a breeze

and the odd shower focused on scotland but the vast majority will stay will stay dry with temperatures ranging from the high teens in the north to mid 20s in the south. we will see this high pressure implements the area more in the uk on sunday so greater chances of rain and the odd shower for northern ireland and western england and western wales but otherwise the vast majority will stay dry with temperatures up to 24 degrees. it will turn more unsettled next week, especially across northern and western areas and we could see some rain at times and a better chance of staying drier, sunnier and warmer across the south east. take care.

us markets surge as surprisingly good retail sales figures dampen fears of a recession and more shoppers are spending at america's largest retailer — walmart posts strong earnings as even the highest income consumers snap up its discount deals. bouncing back — the uk economy continues to recover from last year's recession, growing 0.6% in the second quarter. welcome to business today. this time last week, markets were in a doom cycle over fears the us was headed

for a recession. today, they're delighting in a much stronger than expected bounceback in retail sales. new data says that the all important us consumer spent 1% more at the shops injuly, compared with last year. add that to the news from wednesday that inflation in the us dropped below 3% injuly, for the first time in three years and you've got the ingredient for much better sentiment. this is how us markets are performing now. it is positive across the board there. the strongest they are by the tech nasdaq. europe has just closed and the final trades are filtering through to this data. the strongest gains being enjoyed by

the dax