health experts in the democratic republic of congo say a reluctance to seek hospital treatment is undermining efforts to tackle the outbreak of mpox. a doctor in one province, where there have been more than 4,000 cases and 30 to a0 new infections every day, said a lack of drugs was also a problem. last week the world health organization declared the mpox outbreak — that has been spreading rapidly across parts of central africa — a public health emergency of international concern. health ministers from across southern african are due to meet on tuesday to come up with a coordinated response to the disease. here's our africa

correspondent, simijolaoso. there has been a steady rise in cases in affected countries. 0n the african continent, 18,700 cases have been reported so far, with more than 540 deaths. that's across 12 african countries, including liberia and nigeria. here in west africa, south africa and southern africa, there's kenya, uganda, burundi. but a majority of the cases have been reported in the democratic republic of congo. and that accounts for 96% of cases and 97% of deaths reported so far. several african countries have said they remain on high alert and are putting precautions in place to kerb the outbreak. that would include increasing surveillance across borders, ensuring that there is enough public awareness through public health campaigns, conducting contact tracing as well, and establishing isolation centres.

ngos working on the ground, like the red cross has said there's a critical shortage of testing kits and of vaccines. vaccines are what are essential to kerbing this outbreak. now, the africa cdc has pledged 10 million doses by the end of 2025 will be made available on the continent. it's also announced a partnership with a danish manufacturer, bavarian nordic, to increase vaccine production capabilities here on the continent. they've also pledged 2 million doses will be made available this year. now, the africa cdc said it will give an update on the outbreak here on the continent on tuesday. meanwhile, regional blocs in west africa and in southern africa have said they are monitoring the situation, with health ministers in southern africa due to hold an emergency meeting to assess the impact of the mpox outbreak on countries there.

health workers across india have refused to end protests over the rape and murder of a fellow medic, that have disrupted hospital services. it's been nearly a week since they launched nationwide action, demanding a safer workplace and swift criminal probe. doctors across the country held protests and declined to see non—emergency patients following the killing of the 31—year—old medic, who police say was raped and murdered at a hospital in kolkata where she was a trainee. a police volunteer was arrested and charged with the crime. women activists say the incident has highlighted how women in india continue to suffer from sexual violence. tougher laws in india were brought in after the 2012 gang—rape and murder of a 23—year—old student on a bus in new delhi. the government has urged doctors to return to duty while it sets up a committee to suggest measures to improve protection for healthcare professionals. for more on this, i spoke to dr rakshita singh,

who has taken part in some of those protests in india. i asked her how safe she feels when she goes to work. before this i have been doing a lot of night duties but to be honest, the day i came to know about this incident, i do not think the night duties will be the same any more. we do not want women to do night duties and we will reduce the number of night duties for women, but the question comes again, we are trying to promote and tell the people that women and men are the same, but now we are telling people that they will be reduced duties for women. they are sort of promoting that women are not safe, so they are going in the wrong direction and that is not the action that should be taken by the authorities right now. these are the live shots here, one

in tel aviv where relatives of hostages held by hamas have gathered outside the hotel in the city where antony blinken is meeting israeli officials, continuing their programme of protests, calling on netanyahu to do all he can to secure the release of those held by hamas. talks continue brokered by egypt and qatar to try and reach a ceasefire deal. and then over in chicago, outside where the democratic national convention will take place over the next few days, pro—palestinian protesters criticising the biden administration's position on israel, and president biden is going to address the democratic national convention later today. big protests happening there as well. you are

watching bbc news. the liberal democrats have called for the government to scrap vat on high—factor sunscreen in order to tackle rates of skin cancer. the party says it forms part of its broader plan to improve cancer treatment and wait times in england. leigh milner reports. when the sun comes out, so too should the sun cream, and it should be as cheap as possible. that's according to the liberal democrats, who say scrapping vat on high factor suncream will make it more affordable. it comes after the party contacted 49 nhs trusts to find out how many patients were on waiting lists for skin cancer treatment. the figures show that around 38,000 patients were on an nhs waiting list to start treatment for skin cancer between 2023 and this year. that's up 25% compared to figures recorded between 2019 and 2020. we know that sunscreen in particular

is very expensive, and during a cost of living crisis, it's the kind of item that some people will decide to go without. and i think by scrapping vat, that would reduce the cost, and therefore make it more affordable to people who do want to protect their skin by using these high factor protective sunscreens. the party is also calling on ministers to recruit more cancer nurses to support patients throughout their treatment. we are spending a lot of time working with primary care providers to provide them with specialist training and support from senior people in the field, so that they are better equipped to help their patients begin that journey as early as possible. the department of health and social care told the bbc too many cancer patients are waiting too long for treatment, and it's determined to change that by hitting all nhs cancer waiting times within the next five years. leigh milner, bbc news. in scotland, the edinburgh festival

fringe is well underway. over the three and a half weeks of the event artists from 58 countries are putting on more than 52,000 performances — from comedy to caberet, and music to magic. this week is the final week. 0ur reporter meghan 0wen is in edinburgh and spoke to me earlierfrom one of the performance areas. well, we're at a slightly drizzly edinburgh fringe outside the circus hub, and you might be able to see behind. well, you can see behind. we've got performers from the kung fu dance and circus ready to show us a taster of their show. now, this is recreating the classical lion dance and chinese opera as contemporary performance. well, i'mjoined by the artistic director. thank you forjoining us. just talk to me about the act and what you are bringing

to edinburgh fringe. uh, this show, we started off as a solo in 2016, and now we have ten performance versions in edinburgh. i borrowed the philosophy from hong kong kung fu master bruce lee and to question about performing arts and to question about forms, styles and how do we express ourselves totally and completely. and in the second part of the show, i use the lion dance and also philosophy of bruce lee to question about identity and where we are, who we are, and where do we come from and what is our route. and also question how or can we pass it to our next generation. well, it's part of the hong kong showcase. so let's have a taster of what the dance is all about.

vivaldi's four seasons plays so just a reminder that you are watching the kung fu performance and circus, and they are performing an extract from their show, no dragon, no lion. and this is part of the hong kong showcase at the edinburgh fringe. they are recreating the classical lion dance and chinese opera as contemporary performance. they've come all the

way from hong kong. they come here every year to the edinburgh fringe. it's a contemporary take, as i said, on the classical lion dance at this year's edinburgh fringe. there are performers from 58 countries here and hong kong isjust one of them. so, there we go. a taster of their performance and we'll continue bringing you excerpts from various performers across edinburgh edinburgh fringe. uk marine accident emergency is sending a team to palermo to look into the circumstances surrounding the superyacht which went down off the superyacht which went down off the coast of sicily in the early hours of the morning with at least three british people amongst the missing, one person confirmed dead. we also hearfrom missing, one person confirmed dead. we also hear from the government that ministers met this morning to

discuss the preparedness in case a new type of m pox virus is detected in the country. —— mpox stop now we have the weather forecast. hello there. good afternoon. well, it's going to feel very much as if autumn has arrived at times this week. it will be unseasonably windy, particularly blustery towards irish sea coasts. gusts of wind here of up to a0 to 50 miles an hour at times through the week. some more heavy rain too to come in the forecast, especially for the north and the west. but summer not completely lost. some sunny spells, although for most of us temperatures will be dipping throughout the week. but low pressure certainly dominant. it's out towards the north and the west. it's descending all these weather fronts spinning our way over the next couple of days or so. this afternoon's heavy rain will mostly be across northern ireland, down through western scotland, with some heavy thundery showers approaching western wales and the far southwest of england. plenty of cloud ahead of this rain, but still some sunshine hanging on for east anglia.

for south east england, some of the sunshine hazy at times. a curious colour to the sky with that wildfire smoke still in the atmosphere from north america. but temperatures in the mid 20s where we see the best of the sunshine. tonight the winds will ease down a little, some clear spells developing across central areas. watch out for the super moon. of course, it should be visible for some. it's a mild start to the day tomorrow. a lot warmer tonight than it was last night, particularly out towards the east, it's going to feel quite muggy. we're still left with that legacy of cloud and some outbreaks of rain into tomorrow morning, but that's all clearing its way further eastwards and it's a day very much of sunshine and showers. most of the showers out towards the north and the west where the winds are going to be picking up yet again, particularly across western scotland. some of the showers could have a rumble or two of thunder, but it's drier further south and east, but a fresher feel to things across the board 1a to 22 or 23c. and there's more rain to come on wednesday.

but again, it's most likely out across northern ireland, particularly for western areas of scotland, with some strong gusty winds and some high spring tides too, could cause some problems. further south, we're looking at a much drier day with a ridge of high pressure here. temperatures again in the low 20s towards the south, but probably the mid—teens for many across northern ireland and western scotland. for the rest of the week, there's more rain in the forecast to come on thursday, particularly in the north and the west, but that rain a little further south on friday. bye—bye for now.

live from london, this is bbc news. one person is dead and six are missing after a superyacht sinks during a storm off sicily. british tech entrepreneur mike lynch has been confirmed as one of those missing — his wife has been rescued. kamala harris will address the democratic national convention in chicago later, where she'll formally accept the party's nomination to be its presidential candidate. here to be its presidential candidate. is the scene live. i perry here is the scene live. i'm katrina per in here is the scene live. i'm katrina perry in chicago. _ here is the scene live. i'm katrina perry in chicago, where _ here is the scene live. i'm katrina perry in chicago, where the - here is the scene live. i'm katrina perry in chicago, where the first l perry in chicago, where the first night of the convention will get under way with a tribute to presidentjoe biden. america's top diplomat says it's a "decisive moment" to push for a gaza ceasefire deal as he meets with the israeli prime minister.

hello, i'm annita mcveigh.